Service
Personal care
Help with washing, dressing, toileting, moving about and eating, given with patience and respect for privacy.
Care for older people
Care for older people at home
Support for older people who want to keep living at home, with help where it's needed and respect for everything they can still do themselves.
Ageing well at home
Most older people want to stay in their own homes, among their own things, close to neighbours, church or mosque, and the routines they know. Getting older doesn't mean giving up independence, but some tasks do become harder: bathing, cooking, getting to appointments, or managing several medicines.
Care at home fills those gaps. It isn't about taking over. It's about making the parts of the day that have become difficult easier and safer, so the person has more energy for the parts they enjoy.
Independence and choice
The person receiving care is at the centre of every decision. During the assessment we ask them, not only their family, what they want help with and what they'd rather keep doing themselves. Their preferences go into the written care plan: when they like to get up, how they take their tea, which language they prefer, and whether they'd like a male or female caregiver for personal care.
Caregivers are there to support, not to rush. Helping someone do a task themselves can take longer than doing it for them, but it helps them keep their strength and their confidence.
Moving about safely
Falls are one of the most common reasons an older person's independence changes suddenly. Care can help in practical ways:
- support with walking and transfers, such as getting in and out of bed or a chair;
- a look at the home for loose rugs, poor lighting, wet floors and steps, through a home safety and falls-risk check;
- encouraging regular movement, and help with exercises a physiotherapist has prescribed;
- noticing changes, such as new unsteadiness or dizziness, and telling the family and doctor.
If someone falls and may be hurt, caregivers don't lift them. They follow the emergency plan and call for help.
Company and connection
Loneliness affects wellbeing, and it is easy to miss when family members live far away. Companionship is part of care in its own right: conversation, reading together, music, faith and community activities, walks, and help to stay in touch with family by phone or video call.
Health, medicines and appointments
Many older people live with one or more long-term conditions. Care can include medication reminders, regular health checks, getting to appointments, and coordinating with the person's doctor, with their consent. Where nursing is needed, such as medicines given by a nurse or wound care, a nurse is involved. See support with long-term conditions for more.
The family's role
Families stay involved in the way that suits them. Some share care with visiting caregivers; others live abroad and want regular updates. We agree in the care plan who receives information, how often, and how decisions are made, always with the older person's agreement.
Care can be arranged as visiting care for set times of day, or live-in care when someone needs to be in the home. If you're not sure where to start, our guide on signs that support at home may help may be useful.
Common questions
My father says he doesn't need help. What should we do?
That's very common, and his view matters. It often helps to start small, with something he'd welcome, such as company, help with meals or a lift to appointments, rather than personal care. We can talk through how to raise it with him, and the assessment includes his own views.
Can you help with just a few things, such as shopping and cooking?
Yes. Care can be as light as a few household tasks and some company each week. The care plan covers only what's agreed, and it can grow later if needs change.
How do you reduce the risk of falls?
We look at the home, footwear, lighting and the route to the toilet at night, and help the person move about safely. A home safety check gives you practical suggestions. Good care lowers the risk of a fall, but no one can remove every risk.
Will you keep us informed if we live far away?
Yes, with your parent's agreement. We agree in the care plan who receives updates and how often. See arranging care from abroad.
Related
Care option
Visiting care
A caregiver or nurse comes to the home for agreed visits, from a short daily call to longer shifts.
Understanding care
Recognising when a loved one may need help at home
The everyday changes that suggest someone could use support, and how to raise it kindly.
Talk to us about support for an older relative
Tell us what's become harder and what matters most to them. We'll call you back and talk through what might help.